Improvement in shoe-fastenings



I. G. FARNHAM.

SHOE-FASTENING.

rrron.

FRANK G. FARNHAM, OF HAWLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 191,414, dated May 29, 1877 application filed April 24, I877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK G. FARNHAM, of Hawley, Wayne County, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Fastenings, of which the following is the specification This invention relates to a spring-key for fastening shoes upon the foot.

It consists of three parts, viz.: first, by a base-plate, which is to be securely attached to one side of the shoe, and which has a loop or lug upon its face side, and to which a springkey is attached; secondly, the spring-key above mentioned; and, thirdly, a face-plate, which is to be attached to the other side'of the shoe, and which serves as a washer when the parts of the shoe are closed and fastened together, the spring-key resting upon it when in use.

The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure I is a side elevation of a shoe, with one of the improved fastenings. Fig. II is a sectional view of the fastener and of the parts to which it is attached. Fig. III is a plan view of the face-plate. Fig. IV is an elevation of the base-plate. Fig. V is a side elevation of the plate shown in Fig. III. Fig. VI is a side view of the fastener. Fig. VII is a top view of the base-plate.

The base-plate A has holes or perforations a, by means of which it is sewed to the shoe. One or more washers or stitch-plates, a may be put upon the inside of the shoe, so that the stitches or threads which pass through the holes of the plate a and thereby the plate, will be more securely attached to the shoe than it could be without the use of the plate a, as the stitches could not cut through the leather or cloth of the shoe with the additional bearing upon the inside of the same which is afforded by the said plate a A loop or lug, a projects outward a short "distance from the outside face of the base-plate A, as is shown clearly, Figs. II and IV.

A spring-key, B, constructed as shown in Figs. I and II, is placed upon the loop or lug This key is formed of a single piece of spring metal, flat or bar-shaped. It is bent over double, with the end 1) extending a little a short curve, so as to form a recess, 1), which recess forms an easy sect forthe lug M, which is placed within it when the parts are assembled. When desired, the key-piece may be drawn over the lug a so as to allow the lug to rest in the extreme end I) of the loop formed by bending the bar B over, as is clearly shown in Fig. II. In this position the end of the spring-key may be easily passed through the mortise or aperture of the faceplate C, the construction of which will be presently described.

The key B, being made of spring metal, its sides can be easily pressed apart, so asto allow it to be moved on the lug M, from the central recess 1) to the endb of the loop. The spring of the metal will, however, be suflicient to keep the key in its central position b on the lug a when the parts are in use. The faceplate 0 has a central opening, 0, through which the free end of the key B may be easily passed when desired. This plate has teeth or pins 0 projecting from its bottom side, by means of which it is fastened to the shoe. These teeth or pins are to be passed through the substance of the leather or cloth of the shoe, and may also be passed through suitable apertures in one or more clinching-plates, G, and then thoroughly flattened or riveted down upon the inside of the shoe.

A shoe provided with the fastening herein described will be fastened upon the foot by slipping the spring-key B, so that the lug a will rest in the loop b then insert the free end of the spring-key through the aperture 0, and slide it back on the outside of the faceplate 0 until the lug a rests in the seat I).

The spring-key will then rest on the outside a central opening, 0, attaching-lugs c, and of the face-plate, as upon a washer, and the base plate A, as and for the purpose set forth.

shoe will be firmly fastened upon the foot. This specification signed this 29th day of Having thus described my invention, I de- June, 1876. we t0 lamb FRANK G. FARNHAM.

The base-plate A, having perforations a, and a central lug, M, the stitch-plate a, and Witnesses: the spring-key B, constructed as described, FRANKLIN BARRITT, in combination with the face-plate 0, having RICHARD GERNER. 

